Lens-fitted photographic film package and film feeder and package holder for film processor

ABSTRACT

After exposure of all frames of a film contained in a lens-fitted photographic film, a wall portion of a film take-up chamber of the film package is removed, thereby to provide a film removal opening, through which the exposed film is drawn out directly from the film package. In the film take-up chamber, a cassette or a take-up spool is disposed for winding up the exposed film. So as not completely to wind the exposed film into the cassette, a film arresting member is provided. A film package holder disposed at a film entrance of a film processor can selectively hold the film package or a film cassette taken out from a camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a lens-fitted photographic film packagein which exposure mechanisms are incorporated, as well as to and apackage holder and film feeder for a film processor which are intendedto use in case photographic films contained in lens-fitted photographicfilm packages are to be developed together with photographic filmscontained in conventional film cassettes.

2. Prior Art

Lens-fitted photographic film packages (hereinafter called simply filmpackages), in which a photographic film is previously loaded and simpleexposure mechanisms are incorporated, are widely known, which areintended to make it possible to take pictures whenever desired withoutbuying or carrying about a camera. For example, Japanese Unexam. PatentPubl. No. 64-544 discloses a film package which is previously loadedwith a 135-type cassette film (ISO: 1007-1979) in light-tight fashion.

In this type of film package, the film is wound back into the filmcassette by one frame after each exposure, so that the entire length offilm has been taken up in the film cassette when all the availableframes have been exposed. Thereafter, the film package itself isforwarded to a photofinisher. In order to take out the film cassettecontaining the exposed film, the photofinisher disassembles or partiallybreaks the film package, or detaches a light-shielding cover of a filmtake-up chamber, in either case, in the light. The film cassette is thensubjected to a conventional photofinishing and printing process, and thephotofinisher returns the developed negative film and resultingphotographic prints to the customer.

However, it is inefficient to remove the film cassette from the filmpackage before pulling out the exposed film from the film cassette.Furthermore, because the exposed film is completely wound into the filmcassette in the film package, it is necessary to disassemble the filmcassette or to use a device for catching the leader portion of the filmso as to pull out the exposed film from the cassette. Therefore, pullingout the exposed film from the cassette itself is rather cumbersome.

Generally, the photofinisher is required to process also photographicfilms contained in film cassettes removed from conventional cameras. Butbecause it is necessary to remove the film cassette from the filmpackage, the film packages are sorted out and dealt with separately fromconventional film cassettes.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, a principal object of the present invention isto provide a film package in which an exposed film can be directlypulled out from a film package, and thus the process for removal of theexposed film is simplified.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a film package inwhich the reuse of the film cassette as well as of the package housingis possible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a film feederfor a film processor and a package holder for the film processor, whichmake it possible to develop films pulled out directly from film packagestogether with films pulled out from film cassettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above objects, the film package of the present inventionis provided on the rear side of the film take-up chamber with a filmremoval opening through which the exposed film can be drawn out.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the film take-upchamber contains a cassette for receiving the exposed film therein, andthe film take-out opening is provided by removing a part of the filmtake-up chamber. The film removal opening is of a size that is smallerthan the cassette so as to prevent the slipping-out of the cassette, butis large enough to permit drawing the exposed film through the filmtake-out opening.

Preventing the film end from being wound into the cassette makes itneedless to pull out the film end from the cassette. This can beachieved by making the film end wider than the mouth of the cassette. Itis also preferable for this purpose to form an arresting hole in thefilm end that is aligned with perforations of the film but is largerthan any one perforation, and to provide a film arresting member in thefilm take-up chamber, which is capable of engaging in only the arrestinghole. It is also possible to use a film arresting member having a filmdetecting arm and a claw arm connected to each other and rotatingtogether. The claw arm engages with the perforation when the filmdetection arm moves into a cut-out formed in the film end.

The film package holder of the present invention comprises a packageholding portion for holding a film package therein, from which an end ofan exposed film is pulled out through a film outlet opening thereof, anda cassette arresting portion for supporting a peripheral surface of afilm cassette thereby to arrest the cassette at the film entrance of thefilm processor while an end of an exposed film contained in the filmcassette is connected to film pull-out means. The package holder makesit possible to perform photofinishing of the film package together withphotofinishing of conventional film cassettes.

A film feeder for a film processor of the present invention comprises aleader sheet transporting device for transporting a leader sheet to aphotographic processing section; a plurality of film package holderseach having a film package holding portion for positioning a filmpackage at a film entrance of the film processor, and a cassettearresting portion for arresting a film cassette when an end of anexposed film pulled out from the film cassette is connected to a leadersheet which is inserted in a leader sheet transporting means. A mountingdevice is provided for mounting the film package holders such that theseholders are disposed at the film entrance of the film processor, alignedin a direction perpendicular to the film transporting direction, andmovable in the film transporting direction independently of each other.A movement detecting device detects movement of each package holder inthe film transporting direction; and a plurality of cutters are eachdisposed near the film entrance associated with one package holder so asto cut the exposed film from one of the film package holders.

According to the present invention, the exposed film can be directlypulled out from the film package, so that it is unnecessary to removethe cassette form the film package. Therefore, the operation of removingthe exposed film is greatly simplified. Besides this advantage, sincethe empty cassette remains in the film housing of the film package, thefilm package maker can recover both the film housing and the cassette.This contributes greatly to the reuse of materials as well as toenvironmental protection.

Furthermore, because the film end is arrested before being wound backinto the cassette, it is unnecessary to hook and pull out the film endfrom the cassette by means of a conventional film catching device or thelike. In case the film package contains no cassette, that is, theexposed film is wound directly into the film take-up chamber, since thefilm end is arrested at the predetermined position, it is easy to pickup the film end in the darkroom.

The film package holder of the invention can selectively hold a filmpackage or a film cassette, so that it is possible to performphotofinishing without discriminating between film packages and filmcassettes. Furthermore, the film package holder is movable in a filmtransporting direction, so that the film end will be easily detected bydetecting the movement of the film package holder. When the film cannotbe drawn out any more, then the film is cut by a cutter. Therefore, itbecomes possible automatically to handle not only a conventional filmcassette wherein the contained film is secured at its one end to thespool thereof, but also the film package of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of preferred embodiments whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a film package with its filmhousing encased in an outer casing;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the film package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the film package;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the film package with a rearportion of the film take-up chamber torn off therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the film end pulled outthrough the film exit opening;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the film take-up chamber;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the spoolof the cassette and the film end;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a film package provided with alid removably fitted on the rear side of the film take-up chamber,according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a film package wherein thefilm end will not be wound into the cassette;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional views showing the film arrestingmember before and after operation;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the film housing of FIG. 9 whose lidhas been torn off therefrom after the completion of film winding;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a film take-upchamber showing another embodiment of a film arresting member;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a film package containing a cassettefrom which the film can be fed out by rotating the spool;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a film package wherein atake-up spool is disposed in the film take-up chamber;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal section of the film package of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the film package of FIG. 15 wherein thefilm end is fed out from the film housing;

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a film processor providedwith a film package holder;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the film package holder;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the film package holder holding acassette and a film package;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the film package holder; and

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of the film package holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 a film package 1 comprises a film housing 2 having exposuremechanism and an outer casing 3 in which the film housing is encased.The outer casing 3, which is intended to impart a decorative appearanceto the film package 1, is a cardboard box or the like having ornamentalpatterns and information printed thereon. The outer casing 3 is formedwith openings for exposing a shutter release button 4, a film advancingwheel 5, a finder window 6, a look-in window 7 (see FIG. 2), a takinglens 8, a film frame counter 9 and a flash window 10, so that the usercan operate the film package 1 without removing the outer casing 3. Theouter casing 3 further has a slit 11 for facilitating depression of aflash charge switch (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, a part 12 of the rear side of the outer casing 3 isadapted to be torn off so as to make it possible to remove an exposedfilm directly from the housing 2. A perforation line 13 and a cut-out 15leaving a pull tab 14 are provided to help in tearing off the part 12.The perforation line 13 and the cut-out 15 are not necessary if theouter casing 3 is removed from the housing 2 for taking out the exposedfilm. It is possible to eliminate the outer casing 3 as having nobearing on photography, or to adhere a decorative printed paper to apart of the outer surface of the housing 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the film housing 2 comprises a main body 20, afront cover 21 attached to the front of the main body 20, and a rearcover 22 attached to the rear of the main body 20. The main body 20, thefront cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are each formed of one-piece moldedplastic. The main body 20 has mounted thereon mechanisms necessary forphotographing such as the taking lens 8, a shutter mechanism, a filmadvancing mechanism, and the film frame counter 9. The main body 20 isalso provided with a film take-up chamber 24 for accommodating a filmcassette 23, a film supply chamber 26 for accommodating a roll 25 ofunexposed film, and an exposure frame 27 disposed between thesechambers. It may be possible to provide a rotatable shaft in the filmsupply chamber 26, whose lower end protrudes from the film supplychamber 26, so as to wind up the unexposed film from the film cassetteon the shaft by rotating the lower end of the shaft.

The film cassette 23 contains an unexposed film 29 whose trailing end isfitted to a spool 28 of the film cassette 23. Before loading the filmcassette 23 in the main body 20, the unexposed film 29 is pulled outfrom the film cassette 23 and wound into the roll 25 with its leadingend 30 disposed in the center of the roll 25. The exposure frame 27 iscurved so as to correct the distortion of the taking lens 8, and has anexposure opening 27a for guiding light passing through the taking lens 8toward the film 29.

The rear side of the main body 20 and the bottom ends of the chambers 24and 26 are open. The rear cover 22 comprises a back wall portion 22a anda bottom wall portion 22b for closing these open portions of main body20 light-tightly, wall portions 22a and 22b being so arranged as to forman L-shaped as a whole. A pair of engaging claws 32 formed on the backwall portion 22a are in engagement with a pair of engaging holes 33formed in the main body 20, while a pair of engaging holes 35 formed inthe bottom wall portion 22b are in engagement with a pair of engagingclaws 34 formed on a bottom portion 20a of the main body 20.

The rear cover 22 is formed with a groove 36 surrounding on three sidesan area 37 corresponding to the film take-up chamber 24. The groove 36is V-shaped. The area 37 surrounded by the groove 36 forms a tear-offlid having a tab 37a formed integrally in a free edge thereof. Whenpulling up the tab 37a, the lid 37 is torn off along the groove 36,thereby to provide a rectangular film removal opening 38 shown in FIG.4. The rear cover 22 is formed with a slot 40 through which the filmadvancing wheel 5 protrudes. The slot 40 has a reversal preventing claw41 for preventing the film advancing wheel 5 from rotating in adirection opposite to the film advancing direction.

Designated by 42 and 43 are a flash unit chamber and a battery for theflash unit, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the length D1 of the film removal opening 38 is lessthan the length D2 of the film cassette 23, but is greater than thewidth D3 of the film strip 29. Therefore, the film strip 29 can bepulled out through the film removal opening 38, but the film cassette 23cannot. The leading end 30 of the film strip 29 is formed withprojections 30a on both side edges, such that the width D4 of theleading end 30 is greater than the width D5 of mouth 23a of the filmcassette 23 (see FIG. 6). As the result, the leading end 30 cannot bewound into the film cassette 23 even after the completion of exposure ofall the frames.

The spool 28 is rotatably mounted in the film cassette 23, and has apair of claws 45 and a pair of ridges 46 formed on a flat cut-outsurface of the spool 28, as shown in FIG. 7. The top surface of theridges 46 is disposed in the same cylindrical contour as the peripheralsurface of the spool 28, so as to permit the film 29 to be wound insmoothly curved turns on the spool 28. On the other hand, the height ofthe claws 45 is equal to or less than that of the ridges 46. On thetrailing end of the film 29, there is formed a lug 47 with two holes 48,which is placed on the flat cut-out surface between the two ridges 46with its holes 48 caught on the claws 45.

So as to wind the exposed film 29 back into the film cassette 23, thespool 28 is rotated in a direction A (FIG. 7) in which the engagementbetween the claws 45 and the holes 48 is maintained, so that the film 29will be tightly wound on the spool 27. When the film 29 is then pulledout from the film cassette 23 through the mouth 23a, the spool 28 isrotated by the movement of the film 29 in the reverse direction B. Sincethe holes 48 disengage from the claws 45 when the spool 28 rotates inthe direction B, the film 29 will be separated from the spool 28 at theend without the need for cutting the film 29.

The operation of the above-described embodiment is as follows:

To perform photography, the film package 2 is operated without removingthe outer casing 3. Upon depression of the shutter release button 4, theshutter is actuated to let the exposure light passing through the takinglens 8 fall upon the film 29 disposed behind the exposure opening 27a.When the film advancing wheel 5 is rotated after the exposure, the spool28 of the cassette 23 is rotated in the A direction through a fork 50(FIG. 3), so that the exposed portion of the film 29 is wound back intothe cassette 23, while an unexposed portion is positioned behind theexposure opening 27a. While the film 29 is thus advanced by one frame, asprocket 49 engaging with perforations 29a of the film 20 is rotated bythe movement of the film 29, thereby setting the shutter in the cockedposition and, at the same time, advancing the film frame counter 9 byone graduation. When the film 29 has been advanced by one frame, aconventional lock mechanism is actuated to prevent further rotation ofthe film advancing wheel 5 until after the next exposure is made.

When the film advancing wheel 5 is rotated after the exposure of thelast frame, the leading end 30 of the film 29 leaves the sprocket 49, sothat the sprocket 49 will not thereafter be rotated. Therefore, the lockmechanism is not actuated, and the shutter is not charged. As a result,the shutter cannot be actuated even if the shutter release button 4 isdepressed. Thereafter, when the film advancing wheel 5 is furtherrotated, the leading end 30 is stopped by its projections 30a engagingthe ends of the mouth 23a of the film cassette 23, thereafter film 29cannot be wound further even by rotating the film advancing wheel 5.

When all the available film frames have been exposed, the film packageis forwarded to a photofinisher for developing and printing. In thephotofinishing laboratory, the reversal preventing claw 41 is broken orbent using an appropriate tool, so as to enable the film advancing wheel5 to rotate reversely. The, in the case of the FIG. 2 embodiment, thetab 14 is pulled so as to tear off the part 12 of the outer casing 3along the perforation line 13. In the case of the FIG. 3 embodiment, tab37a is pulled so as to tear off the lid 37 from the rear cover 22 alongthe groove 36, whereby the film removal opening 38 is left as shown inFIG. 4. Since the leading end 30 protruding from the mouth 23a of thecassette 23 extends parallel to the back wall portion 22a, the cassette23 is rotated to position the mouth 23a in the middle of the filmremoval opening 38, so that the exposed film can be pulled out in adirection perpendicular to the back wall of the film package. It ispossible to extend the lid 37 to include the claw 41 such that the claw41 is torn off from the rear cover 22 together with the lid 37.

The leading end 30 is pulled out a short distance from the cassette 23,so as to permit positioning it in a film processor as shown in FIG. 18.In the film processor, a leader sheet is coupled to the leading end 30,and is fed into a processing section, so that the exposed film 290 ispulled out form the cassette 23 while the spool 28 and the filmadvancing wheel 5 are rotated in the reverse direction, that is,direction B. Because the holes 48 formed in the lug 47 of the trailingend of the film 29 are easily disengaged from the claws 45, the entirelength of exposed film 29 is pulled out from the cassette 23 and fedinto the processor section. The exposed film 29 is subjected to printingafter development.

After the separation of the exposed film 29 from the film package 1, thefilm package 1 still contains the empty cassette 23 in the film take-upchamber 24. For the purpose of environmental protection and the reuse ofresources, the film package 1 in this condition is returned to thefactory of the film package maker. In the factory, the outer casing 3 isdetached from the main body 20. Next, the holes 35 of the rear cover 22are disengaged from the engaging claws 34 and the rear cover 22 isremoved from the main body 20. Thereafter, it is checked whether theexposure mechanisms incorporated in the main body 20 such as theshutter, the film advancing mechanism, and the taking lens 8, canoperate normally. If no defect is detected, the main body 20 is reused.

For reuse, the main body 20 is, after resetting the film frame counter 9to its initial position, fed to an automatic assembly line together withnew main bodies. On the automatic assembling line, the main body 20 isloaded with a new film, the battery 43 is replaced with a new one, and anew rear cover is mounted thereon. Finally, the main body 20 is encasedin a new outer casing, and thus a new film package is produced. The rearcover 22 detached from the main body 20 is melted and is used asmaterial for forming new rear covers or the like by molding. The oldbattery 43 is discarded.

FIG. 8 shows a film housing 55 according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, in which the outer casing is omitted for clarity. Inthis film housing 2, a lid 58 is removably fitted over a film removalopening 57 of a rear cover 56. On the edge of the film removal opening57, there is a stepped portion 59 slightly recessed from the outersurface of the rear cover 56 so as to augment the light-shielding effectof the lid 58. A pair of holes 60 is formed in the upper margin of theopening 57, while the lid 58 has a pair of projections 61 which areinserted in the holes 60. The lid 58 further has a pair of claws 62which engage with corresponding recessed portions (not shown) formedinside the rear cover 56. A tab 58a of the lid 58 is provided to pullthe lid 58 as to remove it from the rear cover 56 after tearing off apart of the outer casing. The lid 58 instead may be slidably fitted intothe opening 57.

In order to prevent the film from being completely rewound into the filmcassette 23, it is also possible, instead of forming the projections 30aintegrally with the film 29, to attach a stick-like clip to the filmleading end 30, or to adhere a plastic sheet wider than the film strip29 to the leading end 30. It is of course possible to wind up the filmcompletely in the cassette. In such a case, the film is pulled out fromthe cassette using a device for catching the leading end so as to pullout the film. Such devices are well known in the art.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show another embodiment of the film housing in which theleading end of the film cannot be wound back into the film cassette,wherein the same reference numerals designate the same or like parts asin FIG. 3. According to this embodiment, a film arresting member 65 forarresting the film is disposed beside the sprocket 49.

The film arresting member 65 comprises an arresting portion 65a and aspring portion 65b secured to the main body 20. The spring portion 65bcontinually urges the arresting portion 65a against the film 29, but thearresting portion 65a is larger than each perforation 29a both in lengthand in width, so that the arresting portion 65a will not engage in anyperforation 29a. The main body 20 and the rear cover 22 are formed withrecesses 66 and 67, respectively, which face each other such that thefilm arresting member 65 can move in a cavity formed by these recesses66 and 67. In the leading end 30 of the film 29, there are two openings30b one formed on each edge of the film 29 in alignment with theperforations 29a. The openings 30b are larger than the arresting portion65a as well as the perforations 29a, so that the arresting portion 65asprings resiliently into either one of the openings 30b when the opening30 rides over the arresting portion 65a, thereby arresting the film 29.It is to be noted that the film arresting member 65 may be disposedclose to the film take-up chamber 24 so as to shorten the film lengththat is not wound into the film cassette 23.

In order to pull out the exposed film directly from the film package 1,a tear-off lid 71, which is bounded by a groove 70 providing a thin wallportion in the rear cover 22, is disposed in an area corresponding tothe film arresting member 65. When a tab 71a of the lid 71 is pulledaway from the rear cover 22, the lid 71 is torn off along the groove 70,so that a rectangular film removal opening 72 remains, as shown in FIG.12. It is to be noted that the outer casing (not shown) will in thisembodiment also have a perforation line surrounding an areacorresponding to the lid 71 so as to facilitate removal of that portionof the outer casing that overlies lid 71.

When the film advancing wheel 5 is rotated after each exposure, theexposed film 29 is wound back into the cassette 23 one frame at a timeand, at the same time, the sprocket 49 engaging with the perforations29a is rotated by movement of the film 29, whereby the above-describedshutter charging and other operations are performed. However, as notedabove, the film arresting member 65, being larger than any perforation29a, will not engage with any perforation 29a.

When the film advancing wheel 5 is rotated after the exposure of thelast frame, the opening 30b rides over the film arresting member 65, andthus the arresting portion 65a moves into the opening 30b, whereafterthe film 29 cannot be advanced, and the film advancing wheel 5 cannot befurther rotated. As a result, the leading end 30 of the film 29 stillprotrudes somewhat from the mouth 23a of the cassette 23 when the filmadvancing or wind-up operation is terminated. The film package in thiscondition is forwarded to a photofinisher.

The photofinisher tears off a part of the outer casing thereby to exposethe tab 71a, and pulls the tab 71a so as to tear off the lid 71 from therear cover 22. Then, the leading end 30 exposed in this way is pulledout through the opening 72. In this condition, the film package 1 is setin a film processor wherein the entire length of exposed film 29 isdrawn out and subjected to photographic processing. Thereafter, the filmpackage 1 containing the empty cassette 23 is sent to a factory of thefilm package maker for reuse.

The lid 71 may extend over the film take-up chamber 24 as well as overthe film arresting member 65. In this way, it becomes possible to turnthe cassette 23 such that the exposed film 29 can be pulled out in adirection substantially perpendicular to the rear cover, and thus thefilm package 1 can be positioned in the film processor shown in FIG. 18.

Although the above-described embodiments suggest forming specificprojections or openings in the leading end of the film so as to arrestthe film, it is possible to detect the conventional cut-out 30c which isordinarily formed in the film leader portion 30 of a conventional135-type film, and to arrest, upon detection of the cut-out 30c, thefilm by a member cooperating with a film cut-out detecting member. FIG.13 shows such an embodiment wherein a film arresting member 75comprising a film detecting arm 76 and a claw arm 77 is pivotallymounted between the exposure opening 27a and the film take-up chamber24. The arms 76 and 77 extend along upper and lower sides of theexposure opening 27a. The film arresting member 75 is urged by a spring78 such that the film detecting arm 76 presses resiliently against thefilm 29. On the other hand, the claw arm 77 does not contact the film 29so long as the film detecting arm 76 contacts the film 29, because theclaw arm 77 has a smaller angle of inclination relative to the exposureopening 27a than the detecting arm 76. The detecting arm 76 is widerthan the perforations 29a so as not to be trapped in any perforation29a, while the claw arm 77 is narrower than the perforations 29a, andhas a claw 77a on its free end which is adapted to engage in aperforation 29a.

During photographing, because the free end of the film detecting arm 76is depressed by the film 29 extending over the exposure opening 27a, theclaw 77a is held spaced form the film 29. When the film 29 is almostentirely wound back into the cassette 23, the film detecting arm 76moves into the cut-out 30c, and thus springs up under the force ofspring 78. Because the claw arm 77 also springs up, the claw 77a engagesin a perforation 29a, thereby preventing further film advance. Accordingto this embodiment, it is unnecessary to provide the film with a specialconstruction for film arresting. Therefore, a conventional 135-type filmcassette is usable in this embodiment.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the film arrestingmembers shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 are of course applicable to conventionalfilm packages wherein the cassette containing the exposed film isremoved from the film package for development. Furthermore, because thefilm is reliably arrested before being rewound into the film take-upchamber, this embodiment can be applied to film packages wherein no filmcassette is used, as shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment using a film cassette from which the leaderportion of the film contained therein can be fed out by rotating thespool of the cassette. In such a film cassette 117, as disclosed inJapanese Unexam. Patent Publ. No. 02-124564, an exposed film 118 iswound tightly on a spool (not of flanges formed on both ends of thespool, or the outermost periphery of the film roll is pressed inwardlyby a rib formed around and on the inner surface of the film cassette.

In this case, when removing the exposed film, a lid 119 is slid off toopen a film opening after an overlying portion of the outer casing istorn off. Then, the film cassette 117 is rotated in the direction shownby an arrow, thereby to turn the position of a mouth 117a by 90°. Whenthe film advancing wheel 5 is rotated in a direction shown by anotherarrow, after removal of the reversal preventing claw 41, the spool ofthe cassette 117 is rotated. Upon rotation of the spool, the film rollrotates without being unwound, so that the film leader portion 118,which is separated by an internal separating claw (not shown) from thenext outermost turn of the film roll, is fed out from the cassette 117through the mouth 117a. After the film leader portion 118 is fed out inthis way, the cassette 117 containing the exposed film is positioned ina film processor for development. After the film is completely pulledout, the film package with the empty cassette is sent to a factory ofthe film package maker for reuse.

Although the lids according to the above embodiments are tear-off typeor removable, it is possible to form a lid integrally with the rearcover 22 such that the lid is connected at one margin to the rear cover22 through a thin wall portion, and thus pivotally openable. It is alsopossible to use a light-tight sheet covering the film take-out opening.The light-tight sheet is peeled or torn from the rear cover to permitremoving the exposed film. The film removal opening may be disposed inone end of the film housing. In this case, the cassette is rotated byabout 180° so as to direct the mouth of the cassette toward the filmremoval opening, whereafter the exposed film is pulled out sidewise fromthe film housing.

A conventional film package contains a cassette into which the exposedfilm is wound up, so that the exposed film in the cassette can beremoved from the film package even in the light. However, if the exposedfilm is directly pulled out from the film package according to thepresent invention, then it is preferable to eliminate the cassette froma standpoint of cost, recovery and reuse of the film package. The usercould hardly remove the bare exposed film from the film package, and soalmost all film packages would be forwarded to the photofinisher withoutbeing disassembled or opened in any way.

FIGS. 15 to 17 show a film package 79 wherein an exposed film is woundup on a take-up spool 96 in place of a film cassette. A main body 80 hasan exposure frame 81, and a film supply chamber 82 and a film take-upchamber 83 on opposite sides of the exposure frame 81. The film supplychamber 82 receives an unexposed film 85 rolled up with no core orspindle, and the exposed film is wound up into the film take-up chamber83. A front cover 84 is attached to the front of the main body 80. Arear cover 86 is removably attached to the rear of the main body 80after the unexposed film 85 is loaded in the main body 80, so as toclose the rear side of the main body 80 as well as the bottom of thefilm supply chamber 82 in light-tight fashion. The unexposed film 85 mayinstead be wound on an axle and positioned in the film supply chamber 82in this condition. In this case, the axle should have such aconstruction that the trailing end of the film will be easily disengagedfrom the axle.

In order to attach the rear cover 86 removably to the main body 80, themain body 80 is formed with a pair of engaging holes 87 and a pair ofengaging claws 88, while the rear cover 86 is formed with a pair ofengaging claws 89 and a pair of engaging holes 90. Surrounding eachengaging claw 89, a groove 91 is formed to provide a thin wall portionin the rear cover 86, so that the rear cover 86 can be torn off alongthe grooves 91 for removal from the main body 80. The grooves 91 may beomitted if the engaging claws and holes 89 and 87 can otherwise beeasily disengaged from each other.

As shown in FIG. 16, there is formed on the inner surface of the rearcover 86 a film guide surface 100 which is curved complementarily to theexposure frame 81 of the main body 80. Therefore, when the rear cover 86is attached to the main body 80 after the film has been loaded, the filmguide surface 100 gently presses the film 85 from the rear against therear surface of the exposure frame 81, so that the film 85 disposedbehind exposure opening 81a will not be loose or have ripples.

The take-up spool 96, which is disposed in the film take-up chamber 83and is rotatable by a film advancing wheel 94, comprises an axle 96a onwhich the film 85 is wound, a slit 96b into which the film leaderportion 97 having a smaller width than the remainder of the film stripis inserted, and a pair of flanges 96c for engaging and positioning bothedges of the film 85. On the film side of each flange 96c, there are aplurality of rounded bosses 96d protruding inwardly and surrounding thefilm roll 85 wound on the axle 96a. Since the bosses are disposed in acircle whose diameter is slightly larger than that of the film roll 85when fully wound up on the axle 96a, the bosses 96d gently press theupper and lower edges of the outermost turn of the fully wound film roll85 radially inwardly, thereby to prevent unwinding of the film roll 85.Furthermore, the film take-up chamber 83 is formed on its inner wallsurface with upper and lower ribs 98 which overlie the perforations 85aof the film 85 wound on the axle 96a. The ribs 98 guide the trailing end110 of the film 85, that is, the end of the outermost turn of the filmroll 85 wound on the axle 96a, toward a film removal slot 99 when thefilm 85 is fed out from the film package 79.

The film removal slot 99 is disposed on the rear side of the film 85wound on the take-up spool 96. Recessed surfaces 102 on both sides ofthe film removal slot 99 support a pair of light-trapping fabrics 103and 104 and a plate 105 for pressing the light-trapping fabrics 103 and104 onto the recessed surfaces 102. The light-trapping fabrics 103 and104, which are of plush, prevent ambient light from entering the filmtake-up chamber 83 through the slot 99. The light-trapping effect of theplush 103 and 104 is achieved by the pile of their thread, and the film85 thrusts the pile thread aside when passing through the slot 99.

As shown in FIG. 16, a separating claw 106 is formed integrally with oneof the walls forming the film removal slot 99, and protrudes into thefilm take-up chamber 83 such that the film trailing end 110 is caught bythe separating claw 106, and is thus directed toward the slot 99. Thetrailing end 110 of the film 85 has a cut-out 100a so that the trailingend 110 will not be pressed by the rounded bosses 96d of the take-upspool 96 when the film 85 is fed out. Designated by 111, 112, 113, 114and 115 are a reversal preventing claw, a sprocket, a circuit board fora flash unit, and an outer casing, respectively.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 will be brieflydescribed as follows:

When the film advancing wheel 94 is rotated, the exposed film 85 iswound up on the axle 96a of the take-up spool 96. During winding, bothedges of the film 85 are guided radially inward by the rounded bosses96d of the flanges 96c, whereby the outermost turn of the film 85 woundon the take-up spool 96 is always inside the circle on which the bosses96d are disposed.

After the exposure of all the available frames, the film package 79 isforwarded to a photofinisher, whereupon the film advancing wheel 94 isrotated so as to confirm that the exposed film 85 has been completelywound up on the take-up spool 96, prior to removing the film. This canbe judged depending on the torque required to rotate the film advancingwheel 94, as well as on the noise generated when the film trailing end110 leaves the separating claw 106 and contacts the rib 98.

Next, a part of the outer casing 115 is torn off along a perforationline thereby to expose the pressing plate 105 and the slot 99. Thereversal preventing claw 11 is broken away, and the film advancing wheel94 is rotated in the reverse direction, whereby the exposed film 85wound on the axle 96a rotates along with the take-up spool 96 withoutunwinding, because the rounded bosses 96b of the flanges 96c press theoutermost turn of the film 85 radially inwardly.

But the film trailing end 110, thanks to the cut-out 110a, is not sourged by the bosses 96d, and thus protrudes outward from the flanges96c. Therefore, the curled trailing end 110 moves along the rib 98, andis caught by the separating claw 106, and is thereby guided toward thefilm removal slot 99. Then, the trailing end 110 passes through the slot99 while thrusting its way between the pile threads of the plush 103 and104, and is then fed out from the film package 79. After feeding out thefilm end portion, the film package 79 is positioned in a film processor,and the exposed film 86 is fully pulled out for photofinishing, in thesame way as for the preceding embodiments.

After removal of the exposed film 85, the film package 79 is returned tothe film package maker for refitting and reuse. As described above, theouter casing 115 and then the battery 43 for the flash are removed.Thereafter, the rear cover 86 is pried open by a tool such as ascrewdriver pushed into a gap between the engaging claws 88 and theengaging holes 90, whereby the rear cover 86 is broken along the grooves91. In this way, the rear cover 86 is easily removed from the main body80. The fragments surrounded by the grooves 91, bearing the engagingclaws 89, are finally disengaged and removed from the main body 80. Themain body 80 with the front cover 84 attached is reused as is, in thesame way as described above, the rear cover 86 is melted after removalof the plus 103 and 104 and its material is recycled.

The film removal slot 99 may be located in one end of the main body 80.It is possible to expose the bottom end of the take-up spool 96 from themain body 80 so as to rotate the take-up spool 96 directly by rotatingthe bottom end. Instead of the plus 103 and 104, the film removal slot99 may have a labyrinthine construction, or may be closed by an openablelid. In order to prevent unwinding of the film roll 85 on the take-upspool 96, it is possible to clamp the film roll by the flanges, or todesign the ribs 98 so as to contact the outermost turn of the film roll85. It is also possible to provide a resilient sheet for pressingagainst the outermost turn of the film roll 85.

The above described film packages can be developed in a film processoras shown in FIG. 18, wherein the film package 79 shown in FIGS. 15 and17, for example, is positioned. The film processor comprises a filmsupply section 120, a film reservoir 121 and a photographic processingsection 122. The film supply section 120 consists of a film packagereceiving section 123 in which the film package 79 is positioned, aleader sheet applying section 125 for applying a leader sheet 124, and alight-tight cover 126 for shielding these sections 123 and 125 fromambient light. The light-tight cover 126 is openably mounted on the filmprocessor housing 128 by a hinge 127 about which it pivots.

As shown in FIG. 20, the film package receiving section 123 has a filmpackage holder 136 capable of holding both a film package 79 containingexposed film and a film cassette 135 containing exposed film. The endportions of the exposed films pulled out from the film package 79 andthe cassette 135 are spliced to the leader sheet 124 by splicing tape129. In this condition, the film package 79 and the cassette 135 arepositioned on the film package holder 136. The leader sheet 124 hasperforations 124a extending lengthwise along the center thereof. Theperforations 124a engage with teeth of a sprocket 130, and thus theleader sheet 124 is transported to the film reservoir 121. In place ofthe sprocket 130, it is possible to use an endless belt having a line ofteeth thereon.

The end of a film 137 contained in the film cassette 135 is hooked andpulled out by means of a film catching device which is inserted throughthe mouth 135a of the cassette 135, as is known in the art. On the otherhand, the trailing end 110 of the film 85 contained in the film package79 is fed out by rotating the film advancing wheel 94 in the reversedirection after breaking away the reversal preventing claw 111, aspreviously described.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show the details of the package receiving section 123,wherein two package holders 136 are rotatably held by a bracket 138.Each holder 136 comprises a rectangular base plate 139 and a pair ofholding plates 140 disposed on opposite sides of the base plate 139 andextending perpendicular thereto. Since the spacing between the holdingplates 140 of each pair is slightly less than the width of the filmpackage 79, the film package 79 is pinched between the pair of holdingplates 140.

Because the holder 136 thus holds the film package by pinching, it isdesirable to standardize the width, that is, the vertical dimension ofall kinds of film packages, if there are various kinds of film packagesother than the above-described built-in flash-type film package 79, suchas close-up film packages, panoramic film packages and so forth. In thisway, it becomes possible to hold any kind of film package by the holder136. But until that time, the holder 136 preferably has a positioningmember for each kind of film package, which can be selectivelypositioned on the base plate 139 so as to position the film removal slotof any kind of film package always at a predetermined position. Toachieve the same object, in place of providing such a positioning memberin the holder 136, it is possible to provide recessed portions or thelike on the top and bottom walls of the film packages corresponding tothe holding plate pair 140.

Each holder 136 also has a pair of mounting lugs 141 for rotatablymounting the holder 136 on the bracket 138. The mounting lugs aredisposed below the holding plates 140 and extend perpendicular to thebase plate 139. In the middle of the base plate 139, a cassettesupporter 142 for supporting a film cassette 135 is formed by two slots143 which give resiliency to the cassette supporter 142. Each cassettesupporter 142 has a concave portion 144 curved complementary to theperipheral surface of the cassette 135. When the film package 79 ispositioned in the holder 136, the cassette supporter 142 is pushed bythe film package 79 toward the leader sheet applying section 125.

The bracket 138 is secured to the film processor housing 128 by screws147, whereas the holders 136 are mounted on the bracket 138 with itsmounting lugs 141 coupled by pins 149 to mounting lugs 148 of thebracket 138 protruding therefrom, such that the holders 136 arerotatable about the pins 149. Abutments 150 and coil springs 151 aredisposed between the holders 136 and the bracket 138, so that theholders 136 mounted on the bracket 138 are normally substantiallyvertical.

The bracket 138 further has sensor supporting plates 154 formed onopposite sides thereof and extending parallel to the holding plates 140.On each sensor supporting plate 154, there is a film end detector 155for detecting the film end and an initial position detector 156 fordetecting that the holder 136 has returned to an initial position.According to the present embodiment, these detectors 155 and 156 arecomprised by micro-switches, and are switched on and off by a contactlug 157 which is formed by cutting and bending a segment of the holdingplate 140. It is possible to substitute photosensors or other sensorsfor the micro-switches.

The leader sheet applying section 125 is provided with a sheet applyingplate 160 on which the leader sheet 124 is positioned. The sheetapplying plate 160 has slots for receiving the sprocket 130 and a filmfeed roller 161 for transporting the film in accordance with therotation of sprocket 130. A pinch roller 162 is pressed against the filmfeed roller 161 as to nip the film therebetween. The pinch roller 162 ismounted on the light-tight cover 126. Since the film 137 contained inthe film cassette 135 is fitted at its trailing end to the spool of thecassette 135, as is known in the art, it is necessary to cut off thetrailing end to enable delivering the film 137 into the photographicprocessing section 122. Therefore, a cutter 163 is disposed behind afilm entrance 164 associated with each holder 136. It will be understoodthat because the trailing end of film 85 contained in the film package79 slips off the take-up spool 96, it need not be cut by the cutter 168.

The film reservoir 121 disposed between the leader sheet applyingsection 125 and the photographic processing section 122, is intended toprovide live storage of the film as a loop so as not to interrupt thefilm transport to the photographic processing section 122 even while thefilm is cut. The film loop is provided because of the difference betweenthe film feeding speed in the film feeding section 120 and the filmfeeding speed in the photographic processing section 122, the latterbeing lower than the former. Instead of operating at different speeds,it is possible previously to draw out a certain length of film and holdit in the film reservoir 121 prior to supplying the film to thephotographic processing section 122. It is also possible to draw out theentire length of a film from the film cassette 135 or the film package79, and hold it in the film reservoir 121.

When the film processor processes a film package 79 and a film cassette135 simultaneously, at first the film ends are fed out or pulled outfrom the film package 79 and the film cassette 135 in theabove-described manner. Then, the film ends are secured to the leadersheet 124 by the splice tapes 129.

The light-tight cover 126 is opened as shown by chain-dotted lines inFIG. 18, thereby to position the leader sheet 124 on the sheet applyingplate 160 such that the perforations 124a of the leader sheet 124 engagewith the teeth of the sprocket 130. Next, the film package 79 isinserted between the pair of holding plates 140, whereas the filmcassette 135 is hooked on the cassette supporter 142. Then, thelight-tight cover 126 is closed.

Upon actuation of a start button, the sprocket 130 and the film feedroller 161 start rotating, thereby transporting the leader sheet 124toward the film reservoir 121. As a result, the exposed films 85 and 137are drawn out from the film package 79 and the film cassette 135respectively through the film removal slot 99 and the mouth 135a. Thefilms 85 and 137 are each temporarily stored by a constant length as aloop in the film reservoir 121 and, thereafter, are fed with the leadersheet 124 in the lead into the photographic processing section 122.

While being drawn out, the film 85 is automatically removed from thefilm package 79 because the leading end 97 of the film 85 slips off thetake-up spool 96, so that the entire length of the film 85 is suppliedto the photographic processing section 122. On the other hand, becausethe film 137 is secured to the spool of the cassette 135, the cassette135 is tugged toward the photographic processing section 122 whensubstantially the entire length of film 137 has been drawn out from thecassette 135. As a result, the holder 136 holding the cassette 135rotates about the pin 149 against the action of the spring 151, as shownby chain-dotted lines in FIG. 18, whereby the film end detector 155 onthe side of the cassette 135 is switched on. Upon the film end detector155 being switched on, the sprocket 130 and the film feed roller 161stop rotating. Then, the cutter 163 associated with the holder 136holding the cassette 135 is actuated to cut the film 137. Thereafter,the sprocket 130 and the film feed roller 161 again start rotating.

It will be understood that if the film package contains the same filmcassette as the film cassette 135, the holder 136 holding that filmpackage also rotates at the end of the film drawing out process in thesame way as for the film cassette 135, so that the film end detector 155is switched on thereby actuating the cutter 163 to cut the film.

Upon cutting the film 137, the empty cassette 135 falls down, and theholder 136 returns to the initial position under the action of the coilspring 151. When the initial position detector 156 detects that theholder 136 has returned to the initial position, an indication that thefilm drawing out process is completed is given to the operator by abuzzer or a display.

When the film drawing out processes are completed, the operator opensthe light-tight cover 126, takes out the empty film package 79 and theempty cassette 135, and inserts a new film package and a film cassette.Needless to say, it is possible to position two film packages or twofilm cassettes in the film package receiving division 123. Thedisclosure of handling a film package 79 and a film cassette 1325 sideby side is given solely to show that this is possible and not to implythat this need be done.

It is to be noted that the sprocket 130 and film feed roller 161 stoprotating when the light-tight cover 126 is opened.

The exposed films 85 and 137 supplied to the photographic processingsection 122 are subjected to photographic processing while passingsequentially through various processing baths. Thereafter, the films 85and 137 are dried in a dryer, and then hung by the leader sheetvertically in a well-known film stock apparatus.

The film processor as described above can draw out not only the filmcontained in the film package having no cassette, but also the filmwound in the film cassette 23 within the film package as shown inFIG. 1. Although the film end detection is performed based on thepivotal movement of the holder 136, it is possible to detect the filmend based on horizontal movement of the film. It may be possible to omitthe film end detector and cutter if the film cassette as well as thefilm package are of the type wherein the film can completely slip outtherefrom. The holder according to the above embodiment is applicable toa film splicing unit for splicing a large number of films together so asto form a long film roll. Although the cassette supporting portion 142is designed to return to the initial position because of its ownresiliency after being pushed by the film package, it is possible tourge the film supporting portion 142 toward the initial position by aspring.

Thus, the present invention should not be limited to the above-describedembodiments, and various modifications within the scope and spirit ofthe appended claims will be apparent to people of ordinary skill in thistechnological field.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens-fitted photographic film package having afilm housing formed with a film supply chamber holding an unexposed filmand a film take-up chamber containing a cassette for winding up saidfilm therein after exposure, said lens-fitted photographic film packagecomprising:a removable light-shielding segment forming a part of saidfilm take-up chamber; and a film removal opening formed by removing saidlight-shielding segment from said film take-up chamber, said filmremoval opening being of size smaller than a width of said cassette butlarger than a width of said film, such that said exposed film can bepulled out from said film package leaving said cassette in said filmhousing.
 2. A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim1, wherein said light-shielding segment is disposed on a rear side ofsaid film housing.
 3. A lens-fitted photographic film package as definedin claim 1, wherein said light-shielding segment is disposed in an endof said film housing.
 4. A lens-fitted photographic film package asdefined in claim 1, wherein a groove for providing a thin wall portionin a wall of said film take-up chamber is formed around saidlight-shielding segment, so as to facilitate the removal of saidlight-shielding segment.
 5. A lens-fitted photographic film package asdefined in claim 1, wherein said light-shielding segment is a lidremovably mounted on said film take-up chamber and forming a part of awall of said film take-up chamber.
 6. A lens-fitted photographic filmpackage as defined in claim 1, further comprising an outer casing forpacking said film housing, said outer casing having a perforation linearound said light-shielding segment, and a part of said outer casingbeing adapted to be torn off along said perforation line thereby toexpose said light-shielding segment.
 7. A lens-fitted photographic filmpackage as defined in claim 1, wherein said cassette has a spool forwinding said exposed film thereon, said spool holding a trailing end ofsaid exposed film during rotating in a direction to wind up said exposedfilm, and releasing said trailing end when said exposed film is drawnout from said cassette.
 8. A lens-fitted photographic film package asdefined in claim 1, further comprising a film advancing wheel forwinding up said exposed film into said cassette and a reversalpreventing claw engaging with said film advancing wheel, said reversalpreventing claw being disengageable from said film advancing wheel whensaid exposed film is drawn out from said cassette.
 9. A lens-fittedphotographic film package as defined in claim 8, wherein said cassettehas a spool for winding said exposed film thereon upon rotation of saidspool in one direction, and an end of said exposed film is fed out fromsaid cassette by rotating said spool in a direction opposite to thedirection in which said spool is rotated to wind the film thereon.
 10. Alens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising film arresting means for arresting said film end so as not tobe completely wound into said cassette.
 11. A lens-fitted photographicfilm package as defined in claim 10, wherein said film arresting meansincludes at least a projection formed on one edge of said film end, saidprojection being adapted to be caught on a mouth of said cassette.
 12. Alens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 10, whereinsaid film arresting means includes a film arresting member disposed onsaid film take-up chamber and an engaging hole formed in said film end,said engaging hole being in alignment with perforations of said film butbeing larger than each perforation, such that only said engaging holecan engage with said film arresting member, but said perforations cannotengage with said film arresting member.
 13. A lens-fitted photographicfilm package as defined in claim 10, wherein said film arresting meansincludes a film detecting arm and a claw arm rotating together, saidclaw arm being brought into engagement with a perforation in said filmwhen said film detecting arm rotates into a cut-out formed in said filmend.
 14. A lens-fitted photographic film package having a film housingformed with a film supply chamber holding an unexposed film, a filmtake-up chamber for winding up said film therein after exposure, and anexposure opening disposed between these chambers, said lens-fittedphotographic film package comprising:a film arresting member forarresting an end of said film, said film arresting member being disposedbetween said exposure opening and said film take-up chamber thereby toprevent said film end from being fed into said film take-up chamber; anda film removal opening formed on a side of said film housing in an areacorresponding to said film arresting member, for drawing out said filmend through said film removal opening.
 15. A lens-fitted photographicfilm package as defined in claim 14, wherein said film removal openingis on a rear side of said film housing.
 16. A lens-fitted photographicfilm package having a film supply chamber holding an unexposed film, anda film take-up chamber for winding up said film therein after exposure,said lens-fitted photographic film package comprising:a take-up spooldisposed in said film take-up chamber and winding up said exposed filmwhen rotated in a first direction; a film advancing wheel for rotatingsaid take-up spool; a reversal preventing claw engaging with said filmadvancing wheel thereby to prevent said take-up spool from rotating in asecond direction opposite said first direction; a pair of flanges onsaid take-up spool for regulating positions of both edges of saidexposed film; a plurality of projections formed on one side of saidflanges that contact said film edges, said projections contacting anoutermost turn of a roll of said exposed film fully wound on saidtake-up spool, thereby to prevent unwinding of said film roll; and afilm removal opening leading to said film take-up chamber, whereby anend of said exposed film wound on said take-up spool can be fed outthrough said film removal opening when said take-up spool is rotated insaid second direction after said reversal preventing claw is disengagedfrom said film advancing wheel.
 17. A lens-fitted photographic filmpackage as defined in claim 16, wherein said film removal opening haslight-trapping means for shielding ambient light from the interior ofsaid film take-up chamber.
 18. A lens-fitted photographic film packageas defined in claim 17, wherein said light-trapping means includes apair of L-shaped plush members having pile threads.